Capping-off device



Feb. 12, 1924. r G- W. SWANSON CAPPING-OFF DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Aug. 8, 1922 Patented F eb. 12., 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUS w. swnnson, on Moneenrown, WEST VIRGINIA, AssIcnon TO THE UNITED STATES wINnoWc-Lriss COMPANY, or IvIORGANTOWN, 'WEST VIRGINIA, A con- PORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

CATERING-OFF DEVICE.

Application filed August 8, 1922, Serial No. 580,553. Renewed January 4, 1924.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Gus W. Swanson, a citizen of the United States, residing at Morgantown, in the county of Monongalia and State of West Virginia, have invented a new and useful Capping-Off Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a, device for capping off glass cylinders, and for cutting such cylinders into flattening lengths.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an electrically heated device, by means of which the capping-off and cutting of glass cylinders in the manufacture of Window glass and the like, may be readily accomplished with accuracy and dispatch, as well as without exposing the operator to the danger of electric shocks. A further object is to provide a device of the character mentioned, in which the heating wire is so disposed that both ends must be free and disconnected from the current, while said wire is being passed around the cylinder to be operated upon, thereby permitting convenient and safe manipulation of the wire. A further object is to provide means whereby the wire may be quickly placed in circuit with the heating current or disconnected therefrom, as occasion may require. A further object is to provide means whereby any slack in the wire, after it has been passed around the cylinder, may be readily and quickly taken up, to cause the wire to firmly and closely embrace said cylinder, whereby the device is adaptable for operation on cylinders of different diameters.

The'invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a top plan view illustrating a capping off switch constructed in accordance withthe invention. Figure 2 is a side elevation, with the parts in positions assumed before the slack in theheating wire has been taken up. Figure 3 is a similar view illustrating the positions of the parts after the slack in the heatingwire has been taken up.

i Figure 4 is an end view illustrating the parts in open circuit position. Figure 5 is a similar view illustrating the parts in closed circuit position. Figures 6, 7 and 8 are detail sectional views illustrating the method of anchoring the ends ofthe heating wire.

Referring to the drawing, 10 designates a base of insulating material, preferably of fiber, provided with binding posts 11, which may be connected with a source of electricity. Conductors 12 lead from the binding posts to the terminals of a switch 13, fixedly secured to the base by suitable means indicated at 14c.

The base 10 is provided with a longitudinal groove or channel 15, in which is mounted a slide 16, to which is hinged a clamp member 16. The hinges 17 may be of any desired construction. The top surface of the clamp member 16 is provided with longitudinal grooves, in which are seated the conductor wires 18, leading from the switch 13. Theends of said conductor wires are electrically connected with relatively spaced terminals 19 and 20, fixedly secured to one end of the clamp member, each terminal having anotch 21. It will be noted that the terminals 19 and 20 are flared at their free ends to provide a guideway leading to the notches 21. The slide 16 has an extension 22, which projects beneath the switch 13, to be engaged by a spring catch 23, whereby movement of the slide is normally prevented. Rigidly secured to the base 10 is a clamp seat 23, provided with longitudinally disposed tapered grooves, to receive correspondder and draws it beneath the same, after which both anchoring members are returned to their seats in the member 23. The member 16 is then closed down over the same to clamp them in position. As the clamp-member is closed over the anchoring members, the portions of the heating wire 25 contiguous to the latter, are guided between the contact members 19 and 20 into engagement with the notches 21, thereby placing the heating wire in circuit with the terminals 19 and 20 and J the spring 23, and holding the member 16 in its closed position, moves the slide 16 longitudinally of the base 10, in a direction causing the terminals 19 and 20 to approach the cylinder, thereby taking up the slack in the wire 25, and holding the latter firmly and closely around the cylinder. The anchoring members 24: are prevented from moving by reason of the taper of the seats in which they are located. After the slack in the wire 25 has been taken up, current is admitted to the conductors 18, by turning on the switch 13, and as a result the wire '25 will be heated suificiently to impose a cracking tension upon the glass. In view of the fact that the ter minals 19 and 20 must necessarily be'separated by a slight gap, it will be necessary for the operator to tap the stick gently so as to cause the wire 25 to move slightly, in a circumferential direction around the cylinder, in a manner which is well understood in the art.

The advantages of the invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it belongs. It will be particularly noted that by means of the electrically heated wire, the cappingbfi and cutting of glass cylinders is greatly facilitated and accurately accomplished. An important advantage lies in the fact that both ends of the heating wire must be free and disconnected from the current, while the wire is being passed around the cylinder, thereby insuring against danger of SllOClS to the operator, and providing means for convenient manipulation. It will also be noted that by providing the sliding adjustment for the terminals it is possible to take up all the slack in the heating wire, so that cylinders of differ ent diameters may be readily operated upon by the same device.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described a n. operative manner of constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made, or allot the forms of its use, what is claimed is 1. A capping-off device comprising a heating wire, means for temporarily anchoring the ends of said wire, conductors having terminals, and means whereby said terminals may be moved into and out of engagement with said heating wire to bring them into and out of circuit.

2. A capping-off device comprising a heating wire, means for temporarily anchoring the ends of said wire, conductors having terminals provided with notches to engage said heating wire, and means whereby said notches may be simultaneously moved into and out Oi engagement with said heating wire.

3. A capping-oil device comprising a heating wire, means for temporarily anchoring the ends of said wire, a member movable transversely with respect to said heating wire, and conductors having terminals positioned to be moved into and out of engagement with the heating wire by movement of said member.

4. A capping-oft device comprising a heating wire, means rendering the ends of said wire normally dead electrically, means for temporarily anchoring said ends, conductors having terminals, and means whereby said terminals may be moved into and out of engagement with the heating wire.

A capping-0.1T device comprising two relatively movable members, a heating wire having means whereby its ends may be anchored between said members, conductors carried by one of said members and having terminals positioned to engage or disengage the heating wire, as said members are moved toward or from each other, whereby the circuit to the heating wire is made or broken as the case may be.

6. A capping-oil device comprising two pivotally connected members, a heating wire having means whereby its ends may be temporarily anchored between said members, and conductors carried by one of said members and having terminals positioned to engage the heating wire as the members are moved toward or away from each other, whereby the circuit to the heating wire is made or broken as the case may be.

7. A capping-oil device comprising two relatively movable members, a heating wire having means whereby its ends may be anchored between said members, conductors carried by one of said members and having terminals positioned to engage or disengage the heating wire as said members are moved to clamping or unclamping positions, Where by the circuit to the heating wire is made or broken as the case may be, said terminals having means forguiding the heating wire into engagement therewith.

8. A capping-off device comprising iiln relatively movable members, a heating wire. anchoring devices secured to the ends of said heating wire and positioned to be clamped between said members, and con ductors carried by one of said members and having terminals positioned to engage or disengage the heating wire as said members are moved to clamping or unclamping positions. whereby the circuit to the heating wire is made or broken as the case may be.

9. A capping-off device comprising two relatively movable members, a heating wire having anchoring means secured to its ends, relatively fixed spaced apart terminals secured to one of said members and positioned to engage or disengage the heating wire contiguous to said anchoring members, as said members are moved toward or from each other, and conductors leading to said terminals.

10. A capping-off device comprising two relatively movable members, a heating wire having means whereby its ends may be anchored between said members, notched terminals secured to one of said members and having means for guiding the heating wire to the notches thereof, and conductors leading to said terminals.

11. A capping-off device comprising a base member having tapered anchoring seats, a heating wire having tapered anchoring members complemental to said seats, a clamp member movably connected with said base, and conductors carried by said clamping member and having terminals positioned to engage said heating wire.

12. A capping-ofi device comprising a base member, a carrier member capable of longitudinal and lateral movement relative to said base member, a heating wire having means whereby its ends may be anchored between said members, and conductors supported by the carrier member and having terminals positioned to engage said heating wire.

13. A capping-01f device comprising a base member, a slide engaging said base, a carrier member hinged to said slide, a heating wire having means whereby its ends may be anchored between said carrier member and said base member, and conductors mounted on the carrier member and having terminals positioned to engage said heating wire.

14. A capping-off device comprising a base member, aslide engaging said base, a carrier member hinged to said slide, a heating Wire having means whereby its ends may be anchored between said carrier memher and said base member, conductors mounted on the carrier member and having terminals positioned to engage said heating wire, and means normally locking the slide against longitudinal movement.

15. A capping-off device comprising a heating wire, means for temporarily anchoring the ends of said wire, conductors having terminals, means whereby said terminals may be moved into and out of engagement with said heating wire, and means for taking up slack in the heating wire after it has been engaged with the cylinder to be operated upon.

16. A capping-ofi' device comprising a heating wire, means for temporarily anchoring the ends of said wire, a member movable transversely with respect to said heating wire, conductors having terminals positioned to be moved into and out of engagement with the heating Wire by movement of said member, and means for taking up slack in the heating wire after it has been engaged with the cylinder to be operated upon.

17. A capping-off device comprising two relatively movable members, a heating wire having means whereby its ends may be anchored between said members, conductors carried by one of said members and having terminals positioned to engage or disengage the heating wire as said members are moved to clamping or unclamping positions, whereby the circuit to the heating wire is made or broken as the case may be, and means for taking up slack in the heating wire after it has been engaged with the cylinder to be operated upon.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GUS W. SWANSON. 

